Nebeneinander – Miteinander. Zum interethnischen Verhältnis von Siebenbürger Sachsen und Roma/Zigeunern
Coexistence – cooperation. On the interethnic relation of Transylvanian saxons and Roma/Gypsies

Summary/Abstract: Drawing upon interviews, contributions in internet-forums and local monographs, the author investigates the interethnic relations of transylvanian saxons and Roma (gypsies) from the saxon perspective. He finds that both groups coexisted in parallel worlds, that the transylvanian saxons had many stereotypes about gypsies that included many negative and characteristics that had a rassistic background, but also some more positively appraised aspects that saw the gypsies as an exotic "noble savage". On an other level, the article analyses the daily cooperation between transylvanian saxon paesants and their gipsy servants.In this context, a very differentiated perception of gipsies can be observed: the "own" gipsies that were working for the saxons or were living in the village were percieved in a much more positive matter than gipsies from outside. The relation between saxons and gipsies was that of a mutual, even though asymmetric dependence, a symbiosis. Some forms of social behaviour, as begging or even theftwere somehow tolerated if commited by gypsies, but it was fully invonceivable to accept such a behaviour by a member of the transylvanian saxon community.

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